Labels on GMOs
Should there be labels on genetically modified foods?
What is a GMO/GMF?
A GMO or GMF is a genetically modified organism/food. The organism's DNA has been altered in a way that does not happen in nature. These alterations in the DNA have both risks and benefits.
The Benefits of GMFs
Genetically modified foods have been created to help transport food to developing countries and to help with food production. Some traits GMFs have are herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, and virus resistance. These GMFs have made the crop fields increase, lower costs on food production, lessened the use of pesticides, helped enrich foods with nutrients, and have medical benefits all over the world. Overall there are many benefits to genetically modifying foods and organisms.
The Risks of GMFs
Eating genetically modified foods can cause major health risks. Infertility, immune system problems, accelerated aging, and organ changes, are just some of the health risks associated with eating GMFs. Another risk is allergic reactions to the new genetic combination in a GMF. There are also risks involving the environment. Those include the spreading of the gene into wild populations or organisms that the gene isn't for, and the ability of the gene to affect the "non-target organisms."
My Opinion
In my opinion, GMFs/GMOs should be labeled. Any product that has serious risks like this should be labeled in some way to educate the consumer on what they are buying. Other countries have GMF/GMO labels and so should we. The US needs to add labels on all genetically modified foods or organisms.
Works Consulted
SMITH, MELISSA DIANE. "Gmo Reality Check." Better Nutrition 74.8 (2012): 36. Science Reference Center. Web. 9 Mar. 2015.
Phillips, T. (2008) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): Transgenic crops and recombinant DNA technology. Nature Education 1(1):213
"Frequently asked questions on genetically modified foods." World Health
Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015. <http://www.who.int/
foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-food/en/>.